Travel is hard. Especially when you’re skipping across time zones and have medication you take every three hours. And very especially when you also have to get up super early to catch your flight. I set my alarm for 3:45 AM. I had decided the night before that I would take my first dose of the day at its normal time of 6 AM – which I figured would be after I had gotten through airport security. But by 4:15, it was clear that I just didn’t have the energy to deal with the airport. So, I took my first dose at 4:15, deciding then that I would take my next dose after I landed at Houston for The Switching of the Planes. Never mind that this would be nearly double the time I usually have between these two doses. Not surprisingly, the old Parkinson’s fatigue was setting in by the time we touched down in Houston. I found myself walking around the airport trying to find something to drink so I could take my pills, while I really did not feel like walking around. I settled on a snack bar where I got a Gatorade and some M&M’s. Then I went to my gate, took my pills, and ate the M&M’s while playing Angry Birds 2. By the time boarding began, I was feeling fine.

So…my next dose would be due about 30 minutes before landing in Denver. I decided I would wait until I had de-planed (knowing I was in the last row of seats) and retrieved my checked bag, then take the next dose, before picking up my rental car. But I needed to find a beverage again, as I didn’t want to risk a repeat of my Florida trip, when it took hours to find a beverage. This time, though, I had packed the water bottle that I use when exercising. And I had packed it right at the top of my checked bag. Thus, once I had my luggage, I was able to quickly retrieve my water bottle and fill it up at a nearby drinking fountain, so that I could easily take my pills. Thereby we have another Parkinson’s Disease (PD) Travel Tip!

PD Travel Tip: Pack an empty water bottle in your carry-on. If you don’t have a carry-on, put it at the top of your checked bag. If you don’t have a carry-on or checked bag, hide it in your butt crack.

After getting my rental car, everything went smoothly:

• Had lunch at my favorite Chinese restaurant (The Empress)
• Headed on up to South Park and had myself a time
• Made my way to my hotel outside Gunnison, Colorado
• Took this pic at Kenosha Pass with my NEW PHONE…

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And yes, I’ve started calling the initial travel day of a trip, Day Zero. Stay loosely tuned for Day One.